As previously mentioned, the wheelings and dealings of an off-season frequently pique the interest of some more than a fixtured game.
The above applies to many of us here at Zero Hanger... and as we've already delved into the 10 best single-season recruitment drives, we felt it only fair to highlight a list of lowlights.
With thanks again to the impeccable statistical records of Draftguru, here are, by year, the top ten worst recruitment classes from clubs in the AFL era based off averaged games played across respective crops.
For example, Hawthorn's 2004 crop of Lance Franklin, Jarryd Roughead and Jordan Lewis is weighed down by five players from the same draft class playing a combined five matches.
1. Brisbane (2001)
| Number of Players Recruited | Combined Games Played | Average Games |
| 4 | 3 | 1 |
Some may refer to Brisbane's recruitment class of 2001 as the gold standard of garbage, but with a team that had just won the first of three consecutive flags already compiled, Jesus Christ would have struggled to get a kick.
Still, with four players selected for a grand total of three appearances, it has to rank as the worst of all time.
In all, two missed debuts - Nick Raines and Jarrad Wright โ and the other pair were beyond peripheral to Leigh Matthews and the selection committee โ Jason Gram (two games) and Darren Bradshaw (one).
Although Gram would kick on with the Saints, there isn't a clothes peg big enough to block out the stench of this group.
